Lori Jo (Grinolds) Atwood

Lori Jo (Grinolds) Atwood passed peacefully at home on Nov. 19, 2012 after battling cancer. She spent her last days surrounded by her family and friends.

She was born in Yreka on June 21, 1957 to Richard "Dick" and Joanne Grinolds. She attended Yreka schools where she was a cheerleader at Jackson Street School and also at Yreka High School. She made many friends at school that remained her friends throughout her life. She was so easy to love and fun to be with.

In 1992 after almost 20 years apart, Lori married her high school sweetheart, Mark Atwood. She and Mark made a beautiful home in Yreka and started their business, Atwood Restoration. They raised their three sons in that home where friends and family always gathered.

She loved the outdoors, camping and fishing. When her family was young, she and Mark were always off on camping trips and hikes with the boys. One of her favorite places to go was Gold Beach, Ore., where they went salmon fishing. She would get so excited when she landed a big one.

Lori was a fabulous cook and loved to put on dinners and barbecues for her family and friends. The Fourth of July was one of her favorite holidays and she and Mark always put on a huge, festive party. It seemed like the whole town would show up and she always managed to put out a delicious feast for the crowd. She personally made sure that everyone there was comfortable and felt welcome. She always made people feel welcome and was happiest when surrounded by her family and friends. She also had an uncanny way with animals of all sorts. They had a way of adopting her.

She had a wonderful talent for decorating and her home was so warm and inviting. She loved her home and her gardens flourished under her green thumb.

Lori is survived by her husband Mark; her sons Sam Allison and Wade and Garrett Atwood; her grandchildren Gauge and Aylah Atwood; her mother and stepfather Soup and Joanne McNeal; her brother and sister-in-law Richard and Dora Grinolds; and her sisters and brothers-in-law Darcie and Walt Tevis, Shelly and Jim Bruno and Jodie and Roger Bonta. Lori also leaves behind many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews whom she held deeply in her heart.

Lori was preceded in death by her adored father Dick Grinolds.Lori's sons were her life. She loved them and worried about them and celebrated them.